Midland wins Junior League state title on home field

Midland scored seven runs in the first two innings and Carter Knochel pitched a strong game to defeat St. Clair 9-3 in the Junior League state title game Sunday at Midland’s home field at the Larkin Complex.

Manager Ched Johnson has now coached Midland to 13 of the last 16 state championships in the 14-and-under division. But he knows that for his players, this is a new experience.

“At this level, it’s their first opportunity to experience something like this,” Johnson said. “It’s fun every year and we’re fortunate enough for it to happen. I look forward to going down to the regional and seeing how we fare.”

Midland moves on to the Central Regional, which will be held Aug. 6-11 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Midland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Knochel singled to centerfield with one out and stole second base. After Shane Juday struck out, cleanup hitter James Harris was hit by a pitch and Nate Nichols pinch-ran for Knochel at second base.

Jack Bringard singled to left to score Nichols. After an infield single from Jacob Stone loaded the bases, Ryan Freed walked to give Knochel a 2-0 lead.

Knochel pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first, throwing just six pitches.

“I kind of settled in, got comfortable and let my team go to work,” Knochel said. “We got out to an early lead, so it made me comfortable on the mound.”

Midland padded its lead in the second inning with a five-run outburst to go up 7-0, aided by three St. Clair errors and capped by Jacob Stone’s two-run single.

During the rally, Knochel was struck by a foul ball while standing on third base and fell to the ground. When Johnson went out to check on him, Knochel was able to walk off the injury and stay in the game.

“I told Coach Ched that I wasn’t going to come out,” Knochel said. “This is a huge game of my life and I didn’t want to sit out for it.”

Johnson said he was happy with his team’s intensity early in the game.

“I think we came out ready to play,” Johnson said. “They play for each other and they want to succeed for each other and it shows. Everything they do they put their heart into and as a coach, I can’t ever ask for anything more.”

Midland then scored on a sacrifice fly from Bringard in the fourth to make it 8-0.

St. Clair got on the board in the fifth when Evan Kruskie hit an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 8-1. Knochel allowed the first two runners to reach base in the sixth, but induced a double play and struck out Joe Phillips to get out of the inning without allowing any runs.

Midland added another run in the seventh when an infield single by Griffin Clark scored Ryan Freed and made it 9-1.

Knochel returned to the mound for the seventh, but was pulled after giving up a walk to the first batter of the inning, Colton Dawson. Bringard relieved Knochel and allowed two runs to score, with one being charged to Knochel. But a groundout to second baseman Matt Babinski for the third out sealed another state championship for the Junior League team.

Knochel earned the win. He gave up two earned runs on three hits, striking out four and walking six.

“Carter came out and did an amazing job,” Johnson said. “He did absolutely everything we asked him to do. We just said, ‘Hey, you’re going to strike a few guys out, but for the most part, we want you to throw strikes and we want you to let our defense play.’ That’s what he did in that (six-pitch) first inning. He didn’t blow anything by anybody. He just made them put it in play.

“He had great composure and he wanted the ball today.”

Players from both teams were presented with trophies following the contest, and Midland received its state championship banner.

After leaving Saturday’s game with an ankle injury, Stone played with a brace on Sunday and finished with two hits, a walk and two runs batted in.

“The state championship never gets old,” Stone said. “It’s always fun on the field and it’s just special.”

“To have six state championships under my belt, it’s just an awesome feeling,” Knochel said.

St. Clair manager Bart Stockwell said his team won the 13-and-under state championship last year and finished with an 8-1 record this year.

“I am proud of how we played,” Stockwell said. “This team is never down and out of it. They never say quit. Congratulations to the team across the field. (Midland) is an excellent baseball team.”

Brady Gleason took the loss for St. Clair. He pitched four innings and allowed eight runs (six earned), six walks and four hits.

Midland finished the state tournament with a 5-0 record, but Johnson noted that his team is also special for its camaraderie.

“From (the first player to the 12th player), they like being around each other,” he said. “This week was a perfect example of people stepping up and guys taking the bull by the horns when it’s their turn, no matter what their role is. They just support each other.”

At the Central Regional, Midland will play the Indiana state champion at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in its first game of pool play.

The 2015 Midland Junior League team lost in the regional semifinals to Illinois. Johnson said he is happy to be taking this group to hopefully go past that mark.

“I love this group,” he said. “They’ll battle and I know they’ll do whatever it takes for each other.”